Monitoring and evaluation are some of the important aspects towards the attainment of sustainability in projects. Besides this women are empowered through their active participation in such processes. This study seeks to indicate that whenever project beneficiaries are fully involved in all aspects of the project management cycle a greater likelihood exist for the success of the project. It also shows how collective action can help in the development of communities. The findings of this essay can serve as a watershed for the promotion of dialogue within the project community. There are certain implications of these findings, which are indicative of the importance of community networking, community meetings and community involvement. This study is an endeavour to dispel the notion that evaluation as perceived by traditional evaluators is a field of "experts". In other words, for a person to take part in meaningful evaluation venture, he or she needs certain recognised academic regalia. With capacity building mechanisms in place even a person who may not necessarily be highly literate can monitor and evaluate projects. These women, some of them cannot read and write, but they can monitor and evaluate their projects. This also brings another important aspect into play, concerning their engagement in community meetings and their project meetings, which really empower them. Participatory approaches that are employed at the project site thus contribute in making project beneficiaries aware of the "pockets of excellence" they possess. Besides that, the inclusivity and transparent operations involved in these processes makes women to practise collective decision-making. The levels of literacy amongst project beneficiaries do not serve as an obstacle in embracing participatory monitoring and evaluation. All of them can tell exactly about the " modus operandi" of their project. Despite their inability to distinguish between concepts their possession of a wealth of experience in checking, controlling and judging makes it possible for them to participate enthusiastically.